DIY Pleated Lamp Shade

Here's my attempt at making a Pleated Lamp Shade, like all the rage in England and Pinterest. Here was my first attempt using a Rose thrift store fabric.  It gives off a Shabby Chic vibe, not really what I was going for. Upon the first try I learned a few things. First being that my pleats were too big. Secondly that wrapping the excess fabric around the top and bottom left for a messy finish from the inside. And if you're sitting at the right angle you can definitely see the inside. So because I used hot glue, the fabric and trim came off easily.  I have outlined a tried and true method for creating a beautifully finished Pleated Lamp Shade below.

My trial Lamp Shade

Here is the Lamp Shade that turned out better. First pick out a lamp shade that you already own or find another one better suited for your lamp at a Thrift store. It's easy to remove the existing fabric, or do what I did and just leave it there. You still get plenty of light shining through. Next find a cotton fabric that is light weight in a non-fussy pattern. No stripes! That is a nightmare to line up.

So to begin you should get about 3 yards of fabric, and then pin it on both sides after making your folds. Some people skip this step but it ensures you are evenly pleating and that it's straight up and down. 

After you are done pinning, trim off the excess fabric using the edges to keep your scissors straight.  Then take your hot glue gun and run lines around the edges and press down the fabric to the shade.  Remove pins one at a time while also adding a dot of glue to the folds. 

Next create two strips with your fabric and make something similar to bias tape. Using your iron fold in both sides and press.

Then using your glue gun again run a line around the bottom and press your strip down for a finished look. Trim off any string or fabric that sticks out. 

So there you have it. Pretty easy DIY project that gives you that English look for about $30 for two lamp shades.

xo

Cathleen

Game Room

One week ago we decided to give the Game Room a quick update. We needed to move the computer out of there and into an open spot where we could supervise the kids on it. Now the computer is in our loft and we needed to make a spot for Joe to work from home.  The game room is now more of a Teen Hang out room and also includes a Daybed with Trundle for Sleepovers. Here are some Before and After photos of the space. 

BEFORE

 DURING

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

In a weeks time I painted the walls Boothbay Gray by Benjamin Moore in an Eggshell finish. Joe added crown molding to the room and we painted the existing bookcase and this one below that was hot pink the same colors as the walls. 

We added new curtains by DKNY wtih cute fluffy gray dots.

The Daybed with trundle is from Joss and Main and the bedding is Kate Spade.  The lamp teal lamp is from Home Goods.

I sewed some cute coral and mint vintage looking floral curtains to hide the games in this bookcase.

The game table was sanded down and painted with Magnolia Home Chalk Paint in "It is well." 

As the kids grow and obtain more games, there is plenty of shelf space for them to organize their things.

Someone is already right to work relaxing and enjoying the bed.

Glad to have this space finished for the meantime and ready for play time this summer.

Happy Summer!

xoxo
Cathleen

Guest Room Curtains

The old satin pink curtains that I sewed for the Guest Room just didn't work overall. Nothing seemed cohesive. Originally I thought the pink ceiling would flow downward into the curtains, but no. These new curtains from Anthropologie tie the pink ceiling and gray walls together. I love how rich the color is and how they add a ton of visual interest when you walk past the room. They are nicely lined as well. They are called Odelina in 108" length.  The artist who designed them is Cornelia O'Donovan, a London-based artist who draws inspiration from Celtic Mythology, medieval gardens and transient moments of verdant beauty. Sounds perfect to me. 

I think our guests will find the new TV an added hotel-like addition as well.

I think someday I might change the wall color, not sure yet, but it really is starting to look beige to me, not a light gray. It's Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams currently.

xo

Cathleen

Spring has Sprung! (in the bedroom)

The conversation started a while back. "We really need a new mattress honey." "I know, my back hurts and ours is 12 years old!"  Then Joe got paid out for some old vacation time he didn't use and it seemed like a good time to finally take the plunge.  Then it spiraled out of control as per usual when we decide to change one thing.  We ended up choosing a 16" mattress, the bigger the better right? 

Well the mattress showed up, it was really big. We no longer could use our box spring or our old frame. So then I was bed frame shopping. I found a cute gray metal bed online, but the first one came and it was bent. We had to box it all up and return it.  The new one came, and with the old headboard it was too much gray for me. Everything around me was gray!  I needed color!  So then I had the brilliant idea to redo our headboard.

I wanted color and I wanted a happy fabric.  This fabric is called Fabricut Floral Pond Blossom and is a heavyweight 100% cotton fabric, perfect for upholstery projects.   At first I wasn't sure about the green in it, but it turns out I love it. 

With the new Memory Foam mattress it then became hard to sit on the edge without sort of slipping off. Why is that? Lucky for me, the perfect Tommy Hilfiger green velvet upholstered bench was at Home Goods and I snatched it up.

Well, this story as you can see spiraled quickly out of control.  We didn't have any spring bedding that went with the headboard and had to buy a new deep fitted sheet to fit the mattress. It turns out when you have a 16" mattress you need a fitted sheet that is at least 21" deep!

We washed and put away the Flannel winter Duvet cover and choose a pretty feminine duvet cover with dots from West Elm called Candlewick. We have it in the King Size. The blush pillow cases are also from West Elm in Tencel fabric. The white pillow cases are Kate Spade. The fitted sheet is Ralph Lauren Home and the gray flannel blanket is Tahari Home.

There is truly only one thing left to do to this room and it's change out that darn boob light!

The room just feels so much happier now and ready for Spring. 

Happy Spring Break I'm gonna go take nap now! 🌷

xo

Cathleen